Pipe line stopper



June 9, 1942. F. H. MUELLER TAL 2,285,779

PIPE LINE STOPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July l5, 1940 Frank E- Mueller f June 9, 1942. F. H. MuE|.Ll-`:R ET Al.

PIPE LINE STOPPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l5, 1940 June 9, 1942. F. H. Mul-:LLER E-r AL 2,285,779

PIPE LINE STOPPER Filed July 15, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 5 June 9, 1942.

F. H. MUELLER ETAL 2,285,779

PIPELINE sToPPER Filed` July l5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1231?.

I I Patented'v Junev 9,

UNITED STATE s PATEN 'r 1 oFFIcE I' mrs um: s'rorrsa v v vmnu: n. mener', waiter J. Bowan, and Basu A. Mason, Decatur, lll., assignors to Mueller Oo., Decatur, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application July 15, 1940, Serial No. 345,648

(Cl. 13S-94)l ALt Claims.

ment'in the accompanying drawings with reference to which description will be made.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial section of the new apparatus shown in association with `a section .of a main also in axial section.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 as seen from the right of the. latter iigure.

Figure 3 is a section substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an exploded view tuting a part of the stopper. v

Figure 6 is a section substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a section substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is asection substantially on line' 8 8 of Figure 3.`

Figure 9 is an exploded View of stopper expanding mechanism, and l Figure 10 is a section .substantially on line l0-| 0 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral designates a main'provided with a circular opening 2| which as here shown is upwardly rimmed by aV cylindrical fitting or adapter 22 which is welded to the main in iiuidtight relation. The iltting 22 has an outer annular ange 23 at itsupper end to `which the lower portion of a gate valve housing 24 is Yof a core constiadapted to be secured. Securable on top of the housing 24 is a barrel or canopy '25 which is sumciently long to completely receive the stopper generally designated by the reference numeral 28. 45 e The 'stopper 26 comprises a' core 2,1 which is longitudinally split and comprises the two portions 28 and 29, most clearly seen in Figure 5, these consisting of the lower body portions 30 and 3l and upper semi-cylindrical neck portions 32 and 33. At the base of thel neck portions the body portions have arcuate flanges 34 and 35 coaxial with the neck portions, and providing topA shoulders 35 and 31.

Body portion 39 has a ilat inner face 38 at one side of which is a1 ingitudimuy extending aange 39 whose inner margin is rabbeted to provide rectangularly related longitudinal surfaces '40 and Y' 4|. Set in a transversely extending recess in the lower portion of vbody 30, ush with the face 38, is a pair-,of bars 42 and 43 which denne a rectilinear guideway 44, and similar bars similarly'disposed in the upper portion of the body 30 dene a rectilinear guideway 45 which is parallel to the guideway 44, both guideways beingV normal to an axial plane of the core.

Body portion 3| has a longitudinally extending flange 46 at one side of the dat face 41, the ange having a rabbetedmargin providing rectangularly related longitudinal surfaces 48 and 49. Transverse guideways 50 and 5| are provided by inset bars in the same-manner as in its top wa11 35 shoulder described in connection with body portion 30,

the guideways 50 and 5| being respectively dii rectly opposite guideways 44 and 45 when the parts are assembled and as particularly shown in Figure 4.

'Ihe neck portions 32 and 33 are provided with semi-cylindrical channels 52- and 53 and, intermediate the ends of the latter, with arcuate recesses 54- and 55, Figure 5, and when the parts are joined together by screws as at 56, Figure 8,

the channels 52 and 53 define a cylindrical axial 1 passage 51, Figure 7, while the recesses 54 and 55 deiine a cylindrical enlargement having top and bottom annular thrust surfaces 58 and 59, Figures 3 and 4. From the latter figures it will bel noted that the axial passage 51. is of greater diameter above shoulder 58 than below 59. Below anges 34 and 35 the body portions 30 and 3l are flattened and the lower ends are secured by screws to upstanding anges A60 and 5I of a circular cap piece 52 whose bottom surface 63, Figure 3, isicurved substantiallyv as the walls of the main 20, the direction of.

curvature being parallel tothe faces 38 and 41 of the body portions.

With the core parts secured together, there are provided diagonally opposite longitudinal slots 64 and 65, these being dened respectively between the edge of ilange 39 and the opposed margin of face 41, and between the edge of iiange 46 a'nd the opposed margin of face 38.

Laterally slidable against face 41 is a plate or wing 66 which has iixed thereto keys 51 and 68,Figures 4 and 9, slidable in the guideways 5l and 5l, this plate having a thickness Slightly less than the widthof slot 64 andhaving an outer edge 69 curved as the inner walls of the vmain. 2l. the plate being of symmetrical form and being substantially entirely receivable in the longitudinal core recess. A similar plate or wing 18 is slidable against face 38 and has keys 1| and 12 slidable in' guideways 44 and 45. Slidable between the opposed faces of plates 69 and 10 is a block 13 of rectangular cross section, the opposite faces or edges 14 and 15 of the block being guided in the rabbets of flanges 39 and 46. On its other faces block 13 has formed therein oppositely extending cam grooves 16 and 11, the latter being most clearly shown in Figure 9A. Referring to this iigure, it will be seen that the groove 16 comprises two merging angularly related portions 18 and 19, the latter being much more steeply inclined than the former. Groove 11 is of identical form as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9. These-grooves respectively receive followers in the form of rollers 80 and 8| journaled on plates 66 and 18 in the manner most clearly shown in Figure 6.

When the block 13 .occupies an upper position the rollers are in the lower portions of the grooves and the plates 66 and 18 are substantially completely within the core body. When block 13 is depressed, the plates are cammed outwardly relatively rapidly while the rollers are in the groove portions as at 18 and then more powerfully as the groove portions as at 19 come against the rollers.

Block 13 has a stem 82, extending upwardly in bore 51, whose extremity 83 is externally threaded. Threadedon the extremity 83 and brazed thereto is an internally and externally threaded sleeve 84. sleeve 84 are engaged with the threads of an elongated nut 85 which has a bottom external annular ange 86 underlying shoulder 58. Interposed between the flange 86 and the shoulder 59 is a ball bearing assembly 81. Welded to the upper end of nut 85 in coaxial relation is a tubular member 88 which extends upwardly through an opening in a hollow cap 89. It will be obvious that the block or operator element 13 can be moved upwardly or downwardly by suitably rotating nut -85 through tubular member 88.

Supported on top of shoulders 36 with the circular outline of the latter, isan elongated rubber portion, and slidable on the latter above the ring 98 is an annular metal spacer 9| in turn surmounted by a slidable metal ring 92. All of these elements are of the same diameter, as is also the bottom cap 62. A normally cylindrical rubber bag 93 receives the core and has an upper flange 94 clamped between ring 92 and a bottom ange 95 of the cap 89. The bag 93 includes a bottom wall 96, integral with its sleeve portion, which is conformed to the bottom surface 63 of the bottom cap 62.. Ordinarily the end wall 96 will be molded in this form, but in any event will be caused to assume proper external curvature due to the mandrel effect of the end cap. The upper portion of the core neck is slidably receivable in the cap 89 but relative rotation is prevented by a key 33 and groove 89', Figure 4.

A tubular member 91 has a lower flanged end secured to the top of cap 89 and receives tubular member 88 with a sliding fit. Member 91 passes upwardly through a gland 98 in the top of barrel 25 and vhas its upper end'rigidly secured in an opening in a cross head 99 which` is slidable on rods |88 and |8| rising from a cross bar |82 here shown as integral with the upper portion of barrel 25. Tubular member 88 projects upwardly beyond member 91 and has .a squared end The external threads of and 31 flush ring 98 surrounding the core neck |03 beneath which it is threaded for a distance and is engaged by a nut |04 above the cross head 99. The squared end of member 88 is received in a ratchet wheel |05 which is adapted to be reversibly driven by pawls carried by a ri'ng |88 swivelled on the ratchet wheel and operable by means of a handle |01. i

Immediately above the upper extrenr'iity; of member 88a cross bar |88 is strung on rods |88 and |8| and held against upward movement by nuts threaded on the upper extremities of the latter. Crossbar |08 has centrally journaled therein, on a vertical axis, a thimble |09 having a flange ||0 between which and the lower surface of the cross bar is disposed a ball bearing assembly. Beneath flange |I8 the thimble |09 has a pilot ange ||2 received in the upper extremity of member 88. The thimble is re-` tained inassociation with bar |08 by means of' a screw ||3 whose inner end is received in an annular groove Ill of the thimble.

An indicator rod ||5 is threaded in afbore in the upper end of a stem 82 of block 13 and projects upwardly through tubular member 88 beyond the cross bar |88 and is provided with a mark ||6 normally visiblel above the latter.-4

After the hole 2| has been cut in the main 20 in accordance with usual procedure, the barrel of the boring machine is removed from the top of the gate valve housing after the gate valve has been closed. 'I'he barrel 25 of the present invention may now be secured to the top of the housing 24. At this time the cross bar |88 has been removed from the rods |v and |0| so that by pulling on handles ||1 and ||8 projecting oppositely from the cross head 99, the plug 26 has been enabled to be pulled completely into barrel 25 and held in this position by a clamping ring ||9 engaging tubular member 91 just above the gland fitting 98. Plates 66 and 18 are in retracted relation, and bag 93 is in cylindrical form, the diameter of the cylinder being suitably less than the diameter of the opening 2| of theV main.

With the barrel secured in position on housing 24, the gate valve may be opened and the stopper lowered through opening 2| until the bottom of the bag engages the inner bottom wall of the main, conforming thereto. Barrel 25 having been secured in predetermined relation on the housing 24 the stopperwill be lowered in proper relation, since the stopper cannot turn relative to tubular member 91 and the latter itself is prevented from turning by the cross head 99 to which it is iixed. Cross bar |88 may now 'be secured in position and then upon operating the ratchet drive, tubular member 88 may be turned so as to depress block 13 and thereby project plates 66 and 10 to distend the bag and conform it to the inner side walls of the main as particularly indicated in Figure 3. With the plates fully projected, they complete the major portion of a circle in conjunction with the bottom cap 62 and the main is completely blocked by the conformed rubber bag except for the opening 2|. In order to seal o this opening nut |84 is threaded downwardly on member 88, thus depressing member 91, cap 89, ring 92 and spacer 9| so that the rubber ring 90 is peripherally bulged outwardly so as to carry 'the surrounding is taken by the upper ball bearing assembly and it is here assumed that when the mark on rod i i comes level with the top of bar Hi8, the plates 66 and l@ will have been fully projected. To retract the plates, member 88 is, of course, reversibly rotated, thethrust in this case being taken by the ball bearing assembly 3l. d

It will be seen that the rubber bag is utilized not only to form an edge seal between the plates and the main, between the bottom cap 62, and the main, and at the main opening, but also to prevent any leakage through the,core which might otherwise occur. The bag is of heavy flexible molded rubber and its distention by the plates or wings is facilitated by the reduced section of the core between the flanges t and 3b and the bottom cap, Figure 4, into which it can collapse. The

projected wings are steadied by the flanges 39 and it and the block E3 is rigidly guided at all times by the rabbets in the ange margins. In Figure 6 it will be seen that the diagonally opposite margins of the block 'i3 are fully supported by the shoulders di and i9 at the receding inner edges of the projected wings. Desirably, 1 the wings are not projected at right angles to the axis of the pipe, since there would thus be a considerable torsion effect. Preferably, the plug is so disposed in the main that, as shown in Figure 6, lateral sealing pressure will be exerted by the wings along substantially opposite arcs of the inner walls of the main. Obviously, different sizes of cores with wings of different size may be used to accommodate the apparatus to mains of different sizes. The same bag can be used within a varied range. The main opening 2l can be of the same diameter through the usual range of main sizes.

The invention is susceptible of variation in embodiment and accordingly we do not limit ourselves except as in the following claims.

We claim:

iis

l. A pipe line stopper insertable througha side wall opening in a main, said stopper comprising a rubber bag, a core in said bag, means carried by the core projectible to distend opposite sides of the bag curvilinearly into contact with the inner walls of the main, the closed end of the bag being externally curved so as to conform to and seal against the inner wall of the main opposite the opening, and means for peripherally expanding' the bag adjacent its other end to seal ofi the main opening.

2. A pipe line stopper insertable through a side wall opening in a main, said stoppercomprising an elongated body, a block of rectangular section slidable axially of said body in a recess in the latter, a pair of plates in said recess on OppQsite sides of said block, said plates having outer edges curved as the inside of the main, coacting means between said plates and said block whereby reciprocation of the latter causes simultaneous projection or retraction of the plates transversely of said body, and body walls providing guides for the other sides of said block. f. l

3. A pipe line stopper insertable through a side wall opening in a main, said stopper comprising an elongated body, a block of rectangular section slidable axially of said body in a recess in the latter, a pair of plates in said recess on opposite sides of said block, said plates having outer edges curved as the inside of the main, coactingmeans between said plates and said block whereby reciprocation of the latter causes simultaneous projectionor retraction of the plates transversely of said body, and body walls providing guides for the Ya ing for diagonally opposite margins of the rst mentioned sides of said blocks at the edges of said plates which recede during projection.` l

,4. A pipe line stopper according to claim 2 wherein said body comprises two separable portions on opposite sides -of an axial plane of the body, and wherein said body walls are constituted by a longitudinal ange on each of said body portions.

5. A pipeline stopper according to claim 3 wherein said body'comprises two separable portions on opposite sides of an axial plane of the body, and wherein said body walls are constituted 'by a longitudinal flange on each of'said body portions. 6. A pipe line stopper'insertable through a side wall opening in a main, said stopper comprising an elongatedbody provided with an axially' extending recess having parallel side faces, longi'- tudinal flanges projecting from diagonally opposite margins of said faces short of the opposite faces so that diagonally opposite longitudinal slots are provided, plates respectively slidable against and transversely of said .side faces, said plates having outer edges curved as the inner walls of the main and being respectively projectible and retractible through said slots, said flanges having opposed margins provided with rabbets, a block of rectangular section reciprocable longitudinally of said recess and having edges guided in said rabbets and faces guided between said plates, and means whereby reciprocation of said block causes 'simultaneous projection or retraction. of said plates.

7. A pipe line stopper insertable through a side wall opening in a main, said stopper comprising an elongated bodya block of rectangular section slidable axially of said body in a recess in the latter, a pair of plates in said recess on opposite sides of said block, said plates having outer edges i curved as the inside of the inain,A and coacting means between said platesandsaid block whereby reciprocation of the latter causes 'simultaneous projection or retraction of theV plates transversely of said body, said coacting means comprising cam grooves and followers of which the followers are mounted on said plates substantially midway longitudinally of the latter, said grooves each including two merging angularly related portions so disposed that when said block is uniformly moved to project said plates initial relatively rapid movement of the latter is succeeded by relatively slow and more powerful movement thereof.

8. A pipe line stopper :insertable through a side wall opening vin a main, said stopper comprising an elongated body, a block of rectangular section slidable axially of said body in a recess i'fmth'ef latter, a pair of plates in said recess on opposite sides of said block, said plates having outer edges curved as the inside of the main, coacting means between said plates and said block whereby reciprocation of the latter causes simultaneous proother sides of saidnblock and also providing back- 'jectionor retracticmf of the plates transversely of said body,'said body including a hollow neck portion providing .thrust surfaces for a rotary nut, a threaded stem on said block engaged in said nut, and means operable to rotate said nut whereby to reciprocate said block.

9. A pipe line stopper according to claim 8 wherein said body and neck portion are axially split and wherein the parts of the neck portion are arcuately recessed to provide said thrust surfaces.

10./Apipe line stopper nsertable through a side sectionally, and means carried by the core and oppositely projectible between said portions to distend opposite sides only of the bag curvilinearly into contact with the inner walls of the main, said core being cross sectionally reduced between section portions to permit the sides of the sleeve between said opposite sides to -collapse inwardly.

11;- A pipe line stopper insertable through a side wall opening in a main, said stopper including a body, members movable oppositely transversely of the body and carried thereby, a reciprocable operator element for said members. a rotatable non-rising tubular member having a threaded connection with said `operator element for reciprocating the latter', and a rod xed to said operator element and extending throughsaid upper and lower portions iilling the sleeve cross vlirisinsan Y anemia tubular element for indicating the relative posi-` tion of said operator.'

12. lA pipe une stopper insel-table througii s l main, said stoppercoma block ofrectangular axiallyofsaidbodyinarecess side wall opening in a elongated body, section slidable in the latter, a opposite sides of said block, said plates having outer edges curved as the inside of the main. and coactlng means between said plates and said block whereby reciprocation of the latter causes simultaneous projection or retraction of the plates transversely of said body, said coacting means comprising cam grooves and followers, ot which the followers are mounted on said plates substantially midway longitudinally of the latter.

' FRANK H. MUELLER. WAL'I'IIJR J. BOWAN.l

BASIL A. MASON.

pair of plates in said recess on 

